Varāha Mahā Purana
43 - Vamanadvadashivrata
Durvasas said:
1. In the same manner, in the month of Chaitra (Mesha), Vishnu should be worshipped on the Dvadashi day after due fasting.
2-3. The feet should be worshipped as Vamana, the waist as Vishnu, belly as Vasudeva, chest as Sankarshana, neck as Vishvabhrut, head as Vyomarupin, the arms as Vishvajit and the conch and disc by their own names (Panchajanya and Sudarshana).
4. After worship to the great lord in this manner, place in front, as before, the pot of water with gem within duly purified.
5. As before, place on it in a vessel (of the material mentioned earlier) a golden image of Vamana with a white yajnopavita.
6. Near it should be placed the Kamandalu (spouted vessel), a small umbrella, wooden sandals, rosary and seat of kusha grass.
7. All these together should be given to a Brahmin in the morning uttering “May Vishnu in the form of the dwarf be pleased”.
8. The story of the appearance of Vamana in this month (Chaitra) should then be recited. This is the rule. (Here is a story in this connection).
9. There was once a king named Haryashva. he was childless and so he performed penance for an issue.
10. When he was performing a sacrifice for the purpose, Vishnu came to him in the form of a Brahmin.
11. He asked the king the aim of his deed. The king replied that it was for getting a son. The Brahmin asked him to continue what he was doing.
12. Saying thus to the king, he suddenly disappeared.
13-14. The king completed the rites and then gave (the image with all the associated things) to a poor Vaidik Brahmin saying “O Lord, just as to the issueless Aditi you were born as son, by the same truth may I also get a child”.
15. By this vrata a son was born to him by name Ugrashva and he became an emperor.
16-17. One without a son gets a son, one who wants wealth gets it, one who is deprived of his kingdom regains it. And after death he goes to Vishnu’s abode and after remaining there for long, takes birth as a man and becomes an emperor like Yayati, son of Nahusha.
Summary of chapter 43 of the Varāha Mahā Purana is as follows:
The narrative chronicles the tragic history of King Daṇḍa, the youngest son of King Ikshvāku, who governed his kingdom with military might but succumbed to unrighteous desire upon entering the hermitage of Maharshi Bhrgu. Driven by lust, King Daṇḍa violated the chaste maiden Arajā, the daughter of the sage, disregarding all tenets of royal duty and hospitality. Upon returning to his hermitage, the enraged Maharshi Bhrgu pronounced a terrible curse that a rain of dust and fire would completely obliterate King Daṇḍa, his army, and his entire kingdom within seven days, transforming the prosperous realm into the dense, desolate forest known as Daṇḍakāraṇya.